Post-Civil War modernity and the nurse training movement: The “Experiment” of the Boston Training School for Nurses

Abstract

Background/PurposeThis paper describes the origins of the Boston Training School for Nurses (1873), later named the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing, and the role played by a Boston civic group, the Woman’s Education Association, in its founding. MethodsSocial and political forces in the post-Civil War modern era and the challenges the founders encountered in establishing and managing a nursing school are delineated. DiscussionThemes that highlight the significance of the Boston Training School’s creation relative to the nurse training movement in America are identified. ConclusionThe long-term implications of the initial agreement for a 1-year experiment to train nurses in a formal educational setting are discussed.